Is there any point to care about abs if you are a beginner?

[splattenburgers]

Since I am a beginner (been working out for 3 months) and still have belly fat is there any point in bothering with any ab work at this time? Or should I just focus on other more important things and start thinking about abs once I have gotten leaner?

[MyEgoProblem]

For hip health and posture.

YES.

Need to balance lower back with abs n hams. To avoid/fix apt ect.

[ElrondHubbard]

You should always work your abs. It's not just for appearance.

[DGMan99]

You should always work your abs. It's not just for appearance.

This.

How about having a strong core helps you lift more and be stable during your lifts?

[magician27]

Since I am a beginner (been working out for 3 months) and still have belly fat is there any point in bothering with any ab work at this time? Or should I just focus on other more important things and start thinking about abs once I have gotten leaner?

hows abs different than other muscles you are working when you are fat

[davisj3537]

For hip health and posture.

YES.

Need to balance lower back with abs n hams. To avoid/fix apt ect.

This man knows

[LimpDawg]

Respect from men= fk abs
Respect from women = abs
Respect from both=time & dedication

3 paths to choose, op. Most pick 1 or 2 while a few make it to 3. Unfortunately i chose 2...

[CGunn03]

As a beginner you should actually care a lot about hitting your abs and strengthening your core. The reason for this is simple. Your core needs to be strong if you're going to be lifting heavy. Or lifting in general. If you start lifting heavy and have a weak core you start to risk bad posture and injury. And no one wants that. Just remember no muscle is more important than the other when it comes to building. You want to be proportionate when you're building muscle.

[Rawsteel88]

It depends, are you talking about dynamic ab training (crunches, sit-ups and other spine flexing exercises) or isometric (planks, roll-outs, leg raise to hip level etc)? If it's the first, then no, after what Stuart Mcgill's research has shown i wouldn't recommend anyone that values their spine health to perform much, if any, dynamic ab training, or atleast not crunches and sit-ups.
If it's the latter, then yes, you should definatelly do isometric ab exercises, not only for hypertrophy, but for a stronger core, better posture and to avoid muscle imbalances.

[deapee]

If you are talking about visibly being able to see your abs -- no. Unless you are a model, or you are just at a point where you can see your abs at the point you're at, don't worry about what they look like. Not sure about you, but I have a shirt on 99.99% of the time. Obviously some people's mileage varies. Age, recreational activities that you participate in (maybe you play beach volleyball a lot and care, etc etc), marital status (lol), teams you belong to (maybe you participate in an activity where every pound matters), are all going to affect whether someone cares or not. Personally, I've seen crack heads with 6 pack abs.

If you mean working them, then absolutely. The abs and the whole core are very important.

[splattenburgers]

Thanks for your replies. Any good ab exercises that I can fit into my full body workout?

[ElrondHubbard]

Thanks for your replies. Any good ab exercises that I can fit into my full body workout?

http://www.exrx.net/Lists/ExList/WaistWt.html#Rectus

Take your pick.

[BJP2k14]

Planks will give you the best bang for you buck, adds core and back strength and stability.

[splattenburgers]

http://www.exrx.net/Lists/ExList/WaistWt.html#Rectus

Take your pick.

Damn, that's a lot of options. Any recommendations that don't compromise my back or shoulders?

Planks will give you the best bang for you buck, adds core and back strength and stability.

Planks look like they are pretty bad for your shoulders. Don't I already put enough stress on them with my bench press? (I use incline bench by the way).

[BJP2k14]

Damn, that's a lot of options. Any recommendations that don't compromise my back or shoulders?



Planks look like they are pretty bad for your shoulders. Don't I already put enough stress on them with my bench press? (I use incline bench by the way).

I mean if you're putting all your weight on your shoulders it can be.

[davisj3537]

Planks look like they are pretty bad for your shoulders. Don't I already put enough stress on them with my bench press? (I use incline bench by the way).

No not really unless your shoulders are made of glass in which case working out at all wouldn't be advised. EVERY single upper body lift uses shoulders...planks are an outstanding exercise.

[Rawsteel88]

Thanks for your replies. Any good ab exercises that I can fit into my full body workout?

Start with regular planks, and remember not to hyperextend your lumbar spine and keep your abs/core tight.

Good plank form: http://i.imgur.com/fGKJ9Ya.jpg
Bad plank form: http://i.imgur.com/sVHe36X.jpg

If you run a full body program then finish your workout with 3-4xMax, and when regular planks gets too easy move over to doing them with your feet on a bench and your elbows on a swiss ball, to make it even more challenging start doing circles with your elbows on the swiss ball (aka stir the pot), you could also move over to plank rollouts (http://www.styrkeprogrammet.se/ovningsarkiv/795), just remember that rollouts will also hit your triceps long head and latissimus dorsi, especially if you start doing them with straight arms and a full range of motion.
Another good exercise, but that also trains the hip flexors and rectus femoris pretty hard, are leg raises to hip level, to make these more challenging perform them lying on a bench with your ass outside of it.

[ArmyWollfff]

You should always work abdominals. Your abs play a huge role in a lot of your major lifts. Also, you want to build them up now so when you do lose that bodyfat you'll have em to show off.

[splattenburgers]

Thanks I will check out that planking exercise since it looks fairly simple to do.

[DCArtWorx]

Splattenburgers:

To be honest, I am really glad you asked that, because I too, wish to find out on such matters. I am normally really quite thin and small, but regardless, would really like to see results. I feel bad being too poor to pay for supplements or supplies, but rest assured, I do what I can. As of today, 12 April 2016, I've been doing a series of abdominal exercises and it is hard work -- I cannot wait until my work is paid off.

What I regret though, apart from not being able to afford the necessities, is that each time I attempt to work out, I am constantly straining my neck and causing discomfort there and my upper chest.

Is there anyone here that knows a remedy for that? What recommendations do any of you have for sooner results so that I, too, a beginner can achieve visible abdominal muscles?

[KiNGDuBBz]

Thanks for your replies. Any good ab exercises that I can fit into my full body workout?

- planks
- ab roll out
- side planks
- scissor kicks
- folding chairs
- hanging leg raises
- oblique crunches
- dumbbell side raises
- frog sit ups
- crunches
- pushups

I like to do planks or folding chairs between lifts or sets to keep my heart rate up and challenge myself.

[davisj3537]

Splattenburgers:

To be honest, I am really glad you asked that, because I too, wish to find out on such matters. I am normally really quite thin and small, but regardless, would really like to see results. I feel bad being too poor to pay for supplements or supplies, but rest assured, I do what I can. As of today, 12 April 2016, I've been doing a series of abdominal exercises and it is hard work -- I cannot wait until my work is paid off.

What I regret though, apart from not being able to afford the necessities, is that each time I attempt to work out, I am constantly straining my neck and causing discomfort there and my upper chest.

Is there anyone here that knows a remedy for that? What recommendations do any of you have for sooner results so that I, too, a beginner can achieve visible abdominal muscles?

You're doing the exercises wrong if it hurts your neck.

Fastest way to abs as a beginner? 2 years of hard work and 3-4 bulk and cut cycles. Gain 50lbs. There is no shortcut and the word fast doesn't apply.

[TJP33]

Splattenburgers:

To be honest, I am really glad you asked that, because I too, wish to find out on such matters. I am normally really quite thin and small, but regardless, would really like to see results. I feel bad being too poor to pay for supplements or supplies, but rest assured, I do what I can. As of today, 12 April 2016, I've been doing a series of abdominal exercises and it is hard work -- I cannot wait until my work is paid off.

What I regret though, apart from not being able to afford the necessities, is that each time I attempt to work out, I am constantly straining my neck and causing discomfort there and my upper chest.

Is there anyone here that knows a remedy for that? What recommendations do any of you have for sooner results so that I, too, a beginner can achieve visible abdominal muscles?

Not to sound harsh but at 5'11 and 115lbs, whatever your trying to show isn't cause of fat, its a lack of muscle. You cant grow muscle without eating enough to grow, stop worrying about abs and focus on growing some size. Calorie surplus and lift.